Obstacle advisory system

Abstract

An obstacle advisory system for a vehicle and a method for operating the same are provided. The system, for example, may include, but is not limited to a display, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display, the processor configured to receive sensor data from at least one sensor configured to sense obstacles around a vehicle, generate obstacle display data based upon the sensor data, the obstacle display data comprising display data for each of a plurality of sectors and for each of a plurality of blocks within each of the plurality of sectors forming a grid surrounding the vehicle, and display the generated obstacle display data on the display.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An obstacle advisory system, comprising:
 a display; and 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the display, the processor configured to:
 receive sensor data from at least one sensor configured to sense obstacles around a vehicle; 
 determine when a single obstacle detected in the sensor data includes a border longer than a predetermined length; 
 generate obstacle display data based upon the sensor data, the obstacle display data comprising display data for each of a plurality of sectors and for each of a plurality of blocks within each of the plurality of sectors forming a grid surrounding the vehicle, wherein when generating the obstacle display data, the processor is further configured to generate obstacle display data indicating the border of the single obstacle in one or more of the sectors; and 
 display the generated obstacle display data on the display. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The obstacle advisory system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine, for each sector of the grid that includes indications of an obstacle in the sensor data, a closest block of the plurality of blocks of the respective sector closest to a center of the grid that includes the indications of the obstacle, 
 wherein the processor, when generating the obstacle display data, is further configured to generate identical obstacle display data for the closest block of the plurality of blocks and each of the plurality of blocks in the respective sector of the grid further from the center of the grid than the closest block. 
 
     
     
       3. The obstacle advisory system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine when a plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within a predetermined distance of each other; and 
 determine, when the plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within the predetermined distance, when a border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than a predetermined length based upon the sensor data, 
 wherein the processor, when generating the obstacle display data, is further configured to generate obstacle display data indicating a border of the plurality of obstacles in one or more of the sectors when the border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than the predetermined length. 
 
     
     
       4. The obstacle advisory system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine for each sector of the grid that includes indications of an obstacle in the sensor data, a closest edge of each obstacle in a closest block within the sector to the vehicle within the plurality of blocks of the respective sector, 
 wherein the processor, when generating the obstacle display data, is further configured to generate obstacle display data indicating the closest edge of each obstacle in the closest block within the sector. 
 
     
     
       5. The obstacle advisory system of  claim 1 , wherein the grid comprises a plurality of circles and a plurality of radial lines extending from a center of the plurality of circles. 
     
     
       6. The obstacle advisory system of  claim 5 , wherein each sector includes the plurality of blocks between any two adjacent radial lines of the plurality of radial lines. 
     
     
       7. The obstacle advisory system of  claim 1 , wherein the display is integrated in the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. A method of operating an obstacle advisory system, comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, sensor data from at least one sensor configured to sense obstacles around a vehicle; 
 determining, by the processor, when a single obstacle detected in the sensor data includes a border longer than a predetermined length; 
 generating, by the processor, obstacle display data based upon the sensor data, the obstacle display data comprising display data for each of a plurality of sectors and for each of a plurality of blocks within each of the plurality of sectors forming a grid surrounding the vehicle, the obstacle display data further indicating the border of the single obstacle in one or more of the sectors; and 
 displaying the generated obstacle display data on a display. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the generating further comprises further comprises:
 determining, by the processor, for each sector of the grid that includes indications of an obstacle in the sensor data, a closest block of the plurality of blocks of the respective sector closest to a center of the grid that includes the indications of the obstacle; and 
 generating, by the processor, identical obstacle display data for the closest block of the plurality of blocks and each of the plurality of blocks in the respective sector of the grid further from the center of the grid than the closest block. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining, by the processor, when a plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within a predetermined distance of each other; 
 determining, by the processor, when the plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within the predetermined distance, when a border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than a predetermined length based upon the sensor data; and 
 generating, by the processor, obstacle display data indicating a border of the plurality of obstacle in one or more of the sectors when the border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than the predetermined length. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining, by the processor, for each sector of the grid that includes indications of an obstacle in the sensor data, a closest edge of each obstacle in a closest block within the sector to the vehicle within the plurality of blocks of the respective sector; and 
 generating, by the processor, obstacle display data indicating the closest edge of each obstacle in the closest block within the sector. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the grid comprises a plurality of circles and a plurality of radial lines extending from a center of the plurality of circles. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein each sector includes the plurality of blocks between any two adjacent radial lines of the plurality of radial lines. 
     
     
       14. A vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of sensors configured to collect sensor data indicating when an obstacle is within a range of the vehicle, each of the plurality of sensors arranged to collect the sensor data in a different direction around the vehicle; 
 a display; and 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors and the display, the processor configured to:
 receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors; 
 determine when a single obstacle detected in the sensor data includes a border longer than a predetermined length; 
 generate obstacle display data based upon the sensor data, the obstacle display data comprising display data for each of a plurality of sectors and for each of a plurality of blocks within each of the plurality of sectors forming a grid surrounding the vehicle, the obstacle display data further indicating the border of the single obstacle in one or more of the sectors; and 
 display the generated obstacle display data on the display. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine, for each sector of the grid that includes indications of an obstacle in the sensor data, a closest block of the plurality of blocks of the respective sector closest to a center of the grid that includes the indications of the obstacle, 
 wherein the processor, when generating the obstacle display data, is further configured to generate identical obstacle display data for the closest block of the plurality of blocks and each of the plurality of blocks in the respective sector of the grid further from the center of the grid than the closest block. 
 
     
     
       16. The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine when a plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within a predetermined distance of each other; and 
 determine, when the plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within the predetermined distance, when a border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than a predetermined length based upon the sensor data, 
 wherein the processor, when generating the obstacle display data, is further configured to generate obstacle display data indicating a border of the plurality of obstacles in one or more of the sectors when the border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than the predetermined length. 
 
     
     
       17. The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine for each sector of the grid that includes indications of an obstacle in the sensor data, a closest edge of each obstacle in a closest block within the sector to the vehicle within the plurality of blocks of the respective sector, 
 wherein the processor, when generating the obstacle display data, is further configured to generate obstacle display data indicating the closest edge of each obstacle in the closest block within the sector. 
 
     
     
       18. An obstacle advisory system, comprising:
 a display; and 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the display, the processor configured to:
 receive sensor data from at least one sensor configured to sense obstacles around a vehicle; 
 determine when a plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within a predetermined distance of each other; 
 determine, when the plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within the predetermined distance, when a border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than a predetermined length based upon the sensor data; 
 generate obstacle display data based upon the sensor data, the obstacle display data comprising display data for each of a plurality of sectors and for each of a plurality of blocks within each of the plurality of sectors forming a grid surrounding the vehicle, wherein the processor, when generating the obstacle display data, is further configured to generate obstacle display data indicating a border of the plurality of obstacles in one or more of the sectors when the border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than the predetermined length; and 
 display the generated obstacle display data on the display. 
 
 
     
     
       19. A method of operating an obstacle advisory system, comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, sensor data from at least one sensor configured to sense obstacles around a vehicle; 
 determining, by the processor, when a plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within a predetermined distance of each other; 
 determining, by the processor, when the plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within the predetermined distance, when a border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than a predetermined length based upon the sensor data; and 
 generating, by the processor, obstacle display data based upon the sensor data, the obstacle display data comprising display data for each of a plurality of sectors and for each of a plurality of blocks within each of the plurality of sectors forming a grid surrounding the vehicle, the obstacle display data indicating a border of the plurality of obstacle in one or more of the sectors when the border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than the predetermined length; and 
 displaying the generated obstacle display data on a display. 
 
     
     
       20. A vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of sensors configured to collect sensor data indicating when an obstacle is within a range of the vehicle, each of the plurality of sensors arranged to collect the sensor data in a different direction around the vehicle; 
 a display; and 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors and the display, the processor configured to:
 receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors; 
 determine when a plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within a predetermined distance of each other; and 
 determine, when the plurality of obstacles detected in the sensor data are within the predetermined distance, when a border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than a predetermined length based upon the sensor data, 
 generate obstacle display data based upon the sensor data, the obstacle display data comprising display data for each of a plurality of sectors and for each of a plurality of blocks within each of the plurality of sectors forming a grid surrounding the vehicle, wherein the processor, when generating the obstacle display data, is further configured to generate obstacle display data indicating a border of the plurality of obstacles in one or more of the sectors when the border length of the plurality of obstacles is greater than the predetermined length; and 
 display the generated obstacle display data on the display.